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Two mutually exclusive regulatory systems inhibit UASGATA, a cluster of 5'-GAT(A/T)A-3' upstream from the UGA4 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The S. cerevisiae Uga43(Dal80) protein down-regulates the expression of multiple nitrogen pathway genes. It contains a zinc-finger motif similar to the DNA-binding domain of the vertebrate GATA family of transcription factors; this domain is known to direct binding to 5'-GATA-3' core sequences. The inducible UGA4 gene, which encodes the specific gamma-aminobutyrate permease, undergoes strong repression by Uga43p. This study shows that the 5' region of UGA4 contains a UAS element made of four directly repeated 5'-CGAT(A/T) AG-3' sequences. This element, called UASGATA, can potentially confer to the UGA4 gene high-level expression in the absence of inducer, but this potential activity is inhibited by two distinct repression systems. One system is Uga43p-dependent; it operates in cells grown on a poor nitrogen source. The other is the nitrogen repression system, which relies on Ure2p and glutamine and operates when a good nitrogen source is present. Nitrogen repression also blocks the synthesis of Uga43p, making the two repression systems mutually exclusive. Previous studies have shown that expression supported by 5'-GATA-3'-containing UAS elements requires Gln3p, another global nitrogen regulatory factor containing a GATA zinc-finger domain. Although Gln3p contributes to UASGATA activity, evidence suggests that a second factor can potentially direct expression through UASGATA. Expression conferred by this putative factor is subject to both Uga43p- and Ure2p-mediated repression. The role of UASGATA in the expression of the UGA4 gene is discussed in relation to its sensitivity to the two distinct repression systems.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Mutually exclusive expression of two dominant-negative helix-loop-helix (dnHLH) genes, Id4 and Id3, in the developing brain of the mouse suggests distinct regulatory roles of these dnHLH proteins during cellular proliferation and differentiation of the nervous system.

The dominant-negative helix-loop-helix (dnHLH) proteins Id1 and Id2 have been implicated in the regulation of cell proliferation and differentiation in myogenesis, neurogenesis, and/or hematopoiesis. To further investigate the functional role of dnHLH proteins, we have performed in situ hybridization analysis on serial sections of mouse embryos from days 9.5 to 17.5 postcoitus to establish the spatial and temporal expression patterns of Id3 (HLH462) and Id4, a recently isolated fourth member of the mammalian dnHLH gene family. Id3 transcripts are present throughout embryogenesis and are found in neural cells as well as in cartilage primordia and in epithelial cells lining a variety of organs. The spatial expression pattern of Id3 overlaps considerably with the previously determined pattern of Id1. Id4 expression, which is up-regulated during embryogenesis, is restricted to specific cells of the central and peripheral nervous system. Within the detection limits of in situ hybridization, Id4 and Id3 expression is mutually exclusive in neural precursor cells of the developing brain, suggesting distinct regulatory functions for these dnHLH proteins during neurogenesis.

Animals↗

Metal-ion stoichiometry of the HIV-1 RT ribonuclease H domain: evidence for two mutually exclusive sites leads to new mechanistic insights on metal-mediated hydrolysis in nucleic acid biochemistry.

Crystallographic studies of the Mn(2+)-doped RNase H domain of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase (HIV-1 RT) have revealed two bound Mn2+ separated by approximately 4A and surrounded by a cluster of four conserved carboxylates. Escherichia coli RNase H is structurally similar to the RNase H domain of HIV-1 RT, but requires one divalent metal cation for its activity, implying either that the HIV-1 RT RNase H domain contrasts in its ability to bind two divalent metal ions, or that the crystallographic data reflect specific use of Mn2+ and/ or the doping technique employed. Metal binding stoichiometry has been determined for Mn2+ and the biologically more relevant Mg2+ cation by solution calorimetric studies of native and recombinant p66/p51 HIV-1 RT. Three Mn2+ ions bind to HIV-1 RT apo-enzyme: one at the DNA polymerase and two at the RNase H catalytic center, the latter being consistent with crystallographic results. However, only one Mg2+ ion is bound in the RNase H catalytic center. Several mechanistic implications arise from these results, including the possibility of mutually exclusive Mg2+ binding sites that might be occupied according to the specific reaction being catalyzed by the multifunctional RNase H domain. The occurrence of distinct binding stoichiometries for Mg2+ and Mn2+ to multifunctional enzymes has previously been reported.

Calorimetry↗

Mutually exclusive glomerular innervation by two distinct types of olfactory sensory neurons revealed in transgenic zebrafish.

The olfactory epithelium of fish contains two major types of olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) that are distinct morphologically (ciliated vs microvillous) and possibly functionally. Here, we found that these OSNs express different sets of signal transduction machineries: the ciliated OSNs express OR-type odorant receptors, cyclic nucleotide-gated channel A2 subunit, and olfactory marker protein (OMP), whereas the microvillous OSNs express V2R-type receptors and transient receptor potential channel C2 (TRPC2). To visualize patterns of axonal projection from the two types of OSNs to the olfactory bulb (OB), we generated transgenic zebrafish in which spectrally distinct fluorescent proteins are expressed in the ciliated and microvillous OSNs under the control of OMP and TRPC2 gene promoters, respectively. An observation of whole-mount OB in adult double-transgenic zebrafish revealed that the ciliated OSNs project axons mostly to the dorsal and medial regions of the OB, whereas the microvillous OSNs project axons to the lateral region of the OB. A careful histological examination of OB sections clarified that the axons from the two distinct types of OSNs target different glomeruli in a mutually exclusive manner. This segregation is already established at very early developmental stages in zebrafish embryos. These findings clearly demonstrate the relationships among cell morphology, molecular signatures, and axonal terminations of the two distinct types of OSNs and suggest that the two segregated neural pathways are responsible for coding and processing of different types of odor information in the zebrafish olfactory system.

Animals↗

Expression of oligo/polyalpha2,8-linked deaminoneuraminic acid and megalin during kidney development and maturation: mutually exclusive distribution with polyalpha2,8-linked N-acetylneuraminic acid of N-CAM.

The expression of homopolymers of alpha2,8-linked deaminoneuraminic acid (oligo/polyalpha2,8-KDN) and of megalin during rat kidney development was investigated using immunocytochemistry and immunoblotting, and compared to homopolymers of alpha2,8-linked N-acetylneuraminic acid (polyalpha2,8-Neu5Ac) of the neural cell adhesion molecule (N-CAM). Both, oligo/polyalpha2,8-KDN and megalin were found in early proximal tubules of embryonic day 18 kidneys. In addition, megalin, but not oligo/polyalpha2,8-KDN, was detectable in late S-shaped bodies and early capillary loop stages. Until postnatal day 7, oligo/polyalpha2,8-KDN and megalin immunoreactivity was present, not only in convoluted but also in straight proximal tubules, and then restricted to the convoluted part as in adult kidney. Immunoblotting revealed increasing megalin expression until postnatal week 3 of kidney development, when the level corresponded to adult kidney. Combined immunoprecipitation/immunoblot analyses showed a steady level of oligo/polyalpha2,8-KDN on megalin throughout development. This was in striking contrast to the expression of polyalpha2,8-Neu5Ac and N-CAM, which was highest in early embryonic kidney, undetectable in kidneys of 3-week-old rats, and mutually exclusive with oligo/polyalpha2,8-KDN in its distribution. These findings demonstrated the coincidence of oligo/polyalpha2,8-KDN and megalin expression and the first appearance of proximal tubules, and revealed the high degree of specialization of the biosynthetic machinery for protein polysialylation in kidney.

Animals↗

Fatty acid amide hydrolase in brain ventricular epithelium: mutually exclusive patterns of expression in mouse and rat.

Fatty acid amides and fatty acid ethanolamides are novel signalling molecules exemplified by the sleep-inducing lipid oleamide and the endocannabinoid anandamide, respectively. These substances are inactivated by fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), an enzyme that is expressed by neurons and non-neuronal cells in the brain. In the rat, FAAH-immunoreactivity has been detected in epithelial cells of the choroid plexus and, in accordance with this finding, here we report FAAH mRNA expression in rat choroid plexus epithelium using in situ hybridisation methods. Surprisingly, a comparative analysis of mouse brain did not reveal FAAH mRNA expression or FAAH-immunoreactivity in the choroid plexus of this species. FAAH-immunoreactivity was, however, detected in non-choroidal ventricular ependymal cells in the mouse brain and the specificity of this immunostaining was confirmed by analysis of FAAH-knockout mice. FAAH-immunoreactivity was detected in ependymal cells throughout the ventricles of the mouse brain but with regional variation in the intensity of immunostaining. Intriguingly, in rat brain, although FAAH expression is observed in choroid plexus epithelial cells, little or no FAAH-immunoreactivity is present in the ventricular ependyma. Thus, there are mutually exclusive patterns of FAAH expression in the ventricular epithelium of rat and mouse brain. Our observations provide the basis for an experimental analysis that exploits differences in FAAH expression in rat and mouse to investigate FAAH function in ventricular epithelial cells and, in particular, the role of FAAH in regulating the sleep-inducing agent oleamide in cerebrospinal fluid.

Amidohydrolases↗

AP-4- and AP-5-like proteins from mouse L cells are trans-activators and bind to the GT-II region of SV40 early TRE in a mutually exclusive manner.

Plasmids containing the cat reporter gene, transcription of which is directed by deletion mutants of the SV40 early region transcriptional regulatory element (SV40E TRE), were transfected into mouse L cells to determine the DNA motifs of SV40E TRE responsible for maximal gene expression. One deletion mutant, pSVE305, demonstrated a 50% reduction in CAT activity as compared to pSVE338, suggesting the importance of these 33 bp in directing efficient gene expression in mouse L cells. Introduction of triplet point mutations in this region and subsequent transfection studies in mouse L cells revealed three sites which were responsible for the reduction of CAT activity. These three mutations were located in the middle of the binding sites of three trans-activators: AP-3, AP-4 and AP-5. While the levels of CAT activity directed by SV40E TRE deletion mutants were similar in both HeLa and mouse L cells, the profiles of point mutants were different, suggesting that the activating ability of each nuclear factor is different from that of its counterpart in these two cell lines. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA) demonstrated that binding of AP-4- and AP-5-like proteins of mouse L and HeLa cells to the GT-II motif occurs in a mutually exclusive manner. Furthermore, we observed a 'reverse competition' binding phenomenon which suggested a unique relationship between AP-4- and AP-5-like proteins of mouse L cells to the GT-II motif. Proteolytic mobility-shift analyses showed that an AP-5-like protein was more resistant to proteolytic digestion than an AP-4-like protein of mouse L cells.

Animals↗

Identification of two mutually exclusive groups after long-term monitoring of HIV DNA 2-LTR circle copy number in patients on HAART.

BACKGROUND: Anti-retroviral drug therapy reduces but does not abolish HIV transmission and replication throughout the body. HIV DNA 2-long terminal repeat (2-LTR) circles have been shown in point-based studies to persist in some patients whose plasma HIV RNA was undetectable. However, the degree of fluctuation of circle copy number over time has not been determined. METHODS: A reliable, reproducible and robust quantitative LightCycler (LC qPCR)-based assay for HIV DNA 2-LTR circles in peripheral blood mononuclear (PBMN) cells was established. A prospective, longitudinal study of these circles was undertaken in HIV-1-positive patients on anti-retroviral therapy whose plasma HIV RNA was undetectable at < 50 copies/ml. Patients starting therapy for the first time were also monitored. RESULTS: A cohort of 60 patients whose plasma HIV RNA was undetectable for 32 +/- 2 months were monitored for circles for 15 +/- 2 months. The circle copy number ranged from < 10 to 620 copies/106 PBMN cells. The circle-negative (< 10 copies/1 x 106 PBMN) cells group of 36 patients and the circle-positive (> 10 copies/106 PBMN cells) group of 24 patients were mutually exclusive (P < 0.0001). The mean circle half-life in seven of the 10 patients starting anti-retroviral therapy for the first time was 5.7 days. CONCLUSION: The circle assay is useful for identifying those patients in whom transmission of infectious virus continues despite prolonged periods of time during which plasma HIV RNA is undetectable. New drug combinations and new therapeutic approaches should be aimed at those patients whose plasma HIV RNA is undetectable but who remain positive for 2-LTR circles.

Anti-HIV Agents↗

Restriction-modification gene complexes as selfish gene entities: roles of a regulatory system in their establishment, maintenance, and apoptotic mutual exclusion.

We have reported some type II restriction-modification (RM) gene complexes on plasmids resist displacement by an incompatible plasmid through postsegregational host killing. Such selfish behavior may have contributed to the spread and maintenance of RM systems. Here we analyze the role of regulatory genes (C), often found linked to RM gene complexes, in their interaction with the host and the other RM gene complexes. We identified the C gene of EcoRV as a positive regulator of restriction. A C mutation eliminated postsegregational killing by EcoRV. The C system has been proposed to allow establishment of RM systems in new hosts by delaying the appearance of restriction activity. Consistent with this proposal, bacteria preexpressing ecoRVC were transformed at a reduced efficiency by plasmids carrying the EcoRV RM gene complex. Cells carrying the BamHI RM gene complex were transformed at a reduced efficiency by a plasmid carrying a PvuII RM gene complex, which shares the same C specificity. The reduction most likely was caused by chromosome cleavage at unmodified PvuII sites by prematurely expressed PvuII restriction enzyme. Therefore, association of the C genes of the same specificity with RM gene complexes of different sequence specificities can confer on a resident RM gene complex the capacity to abort establishment of a second, incoming RM gene complex. This phenomenon, termed "apoptotic mutual exclusion," is reminiscent of suicidal defense against virus infection programmed by other selfish elements. pvuIIC and bamHIC genes define one incompatibility group of exclusion whereas ecoRVC gene defines another.

Apoptosis↗

Mutually exclusive interaction of a novel matrix attachment region binding protein and the NF-muNR enhancer repressor. Implications for regulation of immunoglobulin heavy chain expression.

The immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) intronic enhancer stimulates transcription from functional promoters in B lymphocytes but not other cell types. The observation that binding sites for the nuclear factor-mu negative regulator (NF-muNR) enhancer repressor overlap nuclear matrix attachment regions (MARs) in this enhancer has lead to the hypothesis that the cell type specificity of the enhancer might be controlled by regulating nuclear matrix attachment (Scheuermann, R. H., and Chen, U. (1989) Genes & Dev. 3, 1255-1266). To understand the role of MARs in IgH enhancer regulation, we have identified a novel MAR-binding protein, MAR-BP1, from soluble nuclear matrix preparations based on its ability to bind to the MARs associated with the IgH enhancer. Purified MAR-BP1 migrates as a 33-kDa protein, and it can be found in nuclear matrix preparations from a number of different types of lymphoid cell lines. Although specific binding sites have been difficult to localize by chemical or enzymatic footprinting procedures, NF-muNR binding sites are critical for efficient MAR-BP1 binding. Indeed, binding of the IgH enhancer to either intact nuclear matrix preparations or to MAR-BP1 is mutually exclusive to NF-muNR binding. These results are consistent with a model for cell-type specific regulation in which binding of the NF-muNR repressor to the IgH enhancer prevents nuclear matrix attachment in inappropriate cells by interfering with MAR-BP1/enhancer interaction.

Animals↗

Initiation factor IF-3 and the binary complex between initiation factor IF-2 and formylmethionyl-tRNA are mutually exclusive on the 30-S ribosomal subunit.

The formation of 30-S initiation complexes depends strongly on initiation factor IF-3; at molar ratios of IF-3 to 30-S ribosomes up to one a stimulation is observed, whereas at ratios higher than one, initiation complex formation declines strongly. The target of the observed inhibition of fMet-tRNA binding at high concentrations of IF-3 is the 30-S initiation complex itself. On the one hand addition of IF-3 to preformed 30-S initiation complexes leads to a release of bound fMet-tRNA which is linear with the amount of factor added, whereas no effect on isolated 70-S initiation complexes is seen. The release of fMet-tRNA from preformed 30-S initiation complexes is accompanied by a release of IF-2 in a one-to-one molar ratio which is in agreement with our previous findings showing that binding of fMet-tRNA takes place via a binary complex: IF-2 . fMet-tRNA (Eur. J. Biochem. 66, 181--192 and 77, 69--75). On the other hand increasing amounts of both IF-2 and fMet-tRNA relieve the IF-3-induced inhibition of 30-S initiation complex formation. From these findings it is concluded that IF-3 and the IF-2 . fMet-tRNA complex are mutually exclusive on the 30-S ribosome. This implies that under our experimental conditions MS2 RNA binding precedes fMet-tRNA binding if one accepts that the presence of IF-3 on the 30-S subunit is obligatory for messenger binding.

Escherichia coli↗

Molecular profiling of human hepatocellular carcinoma defines mutually exclusive interferon regulation and insulin-like growth factor II overexpression.

Molecular subtyping of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with potential mechanistic and therapeutic impact has not been achieved thus far. We have analyzed the mRNA expression patterns of 43 different human HCC samples and 3 HCC cell lines in comparison with normal adult liver using high-density cDNA microarrays. Two main groups of HCC, designated group A (65%) and group B (35%), were distinguished based on clustering of the most highly varying genes. Group A HCCs were characterized by induction of a number of interferon (IFN)-regulated genes, whereas group B was characterized mainly by down-regulation of several apoptosis-relevant and IFN-regulated genes. The number of apoptotic tumor cells and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes was significantly higher in tumors of group A as compared with those of group B. Based on the expression pattern, group B was further subdivided into two subgroups, designated subgroup B1 (6 of 43 tumors, 14%) and subgroup B2 (9 of 43 tumors, 21%). A prominent characteristic of subgroup B1 was high overexpression of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-II. All tested HCC cell lines expressed equally high concentrations of IGF-II transcripts and co-segregated with group B1 in clustering. IGF-II overexpression and induction of IFN-related genes were mutually exclusive, even when analysis was extended to other cancer expression profile studies. Moreover, IFN-gamma treatment substantially reduced IGF-II expression in HCC cells. In conclusion, cDNA microarray analyses provided subtyping of HCCs that is related to intratumor inflammation and tumor cell apoptosis. This profiling may be of mechanistic and therapeutic impact because IGF-II overexpression has been linked to reduced apoptosis and increased proliferation and may be accessible to therapeutic intervention.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗

The p16INK4alpha/p19ARF gene mutations are infrequent and are mutually exclusive to p53 mutations in Indian oral squamous cell carcinomas.

Eighty-seven untreated primary oral squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) associated with betel quid and tobacco chewing from Indian patients were analysed for the presence of mutations in the commonly shared exon 2 of p16INK4alpha/p19ARF genes. Polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) and sequencing analysis were used to detect mutations. SSCP analysis indicated that only 9% (8/87) of the tumours had mutation in p16INK4alpha/p19ARF genes. Seventy-two tumours studied here were previously analysed for p53 mutations and 21% (15/72) of them were found to have mutations in p53 gene. Only one tumour was found to have mutation at both p53 and p16INK4alpha/p19ARF genes. Thus, the mutation rates observed were 21% for p53, 9% for p16INK4alpha/p19ARF, and 1% for both. Sequencing analysis revealed two types of mutations; i) G to C (GCAG to CCAG) transversion type mutation at intron 1-exon 2 splice junction and ii) another C to T transition type mutation resulting in CGA to TGA changing arginine to a termination codon at p16INK4alpha gene codon 80 and the same mutation will alter codon 94 of p19ARF gene from CCG to CTG (proline to leucine). These results suggest that p16INK4alpha/p19ARF mutations are less frequent than p53 mutations in Indian oral SCCs. The p53 and p16INK4alpha/p19ARF mutational events are independent and are mutually exclusive suggesting that mutational inactivation of either p53 or p16INK4alpha/p19ARF may alleviate the need for the inactivation of the other gene.

Adolescent↗

Junctional diversity of H and L chains allows the coexpression of two mutually exclusive idiotopes (IdI104 and IdI558).

The molecular basis for the unexpected coexpression of the individual Id (IdI)558 and IdI104 Id by anti-alpha(1-3) DEX antibody (Ab) (126.33 and 414.2) derived from the MPW wild mouse strain has been investigated by the comparison of the structures of their VH and V lambda 1 chain regions with those of two other MPW-derived Ab (262.9 and 16.3) expressing either IdI558 or IdI104 Id. Our data show that 262.9 and 16.3 Ab display identical V lambda 1 and very similar VH regions when compared with BALB/c anti-alpha (1-3) dextran Ab expressing IdI104 or IdI558, respectively. The two Ab (414.2 and 126.33) that express both IdI104 and IdI558 Id display two main features. First, their VH CDR3 are different from those found in IdI104 or IdI558 expressing anti-alpha(1-3) dextran Ab. Second, their V lambda 1 are identical to those from BALB/c origin except for the presence of an additional residue, a phenylalanine at position 95A of CDR3. This additional residue is encoded by the V lambda 1 gene segment and results from a hitherto undescribed V lambda 1-J lambda 1 junction. The alteration of the length of the V lambda 1 CDR3 loop, in conjunction with particular residues within VH CDR3, allows the coexpression of two Id that were found to be mutually exclusive in laboratory mice.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Mutually exclusive muscle designs: the power output of the locomotory and sonic muscles of the oyster toadfish (Opsanus tau).

Animals perform a vast array of motor activities. Although it has generally been accepted that muscles are well suited to the function that they must perform, specialization for performing one function may compromise their ability for carrying out another. We examined this principle in the toadfish muscular system: slow-twitch red and fast-twitch white myotomal muscles are used for powering swimming at relatively low frequencies, while the superfast swimbladder muscle powers mating calls by contracting at 100 Hz. We measured muscle power output over a wide range of frequencies. The red and white locomotory muscles could not generate power over ca. 2.2 and 12 Hz, respectively and, hence, could not power sound production. In contrast, the swimbladder muscle has many specializations that permit it to generate power at frequencies in excess of 100 Hz. However, these specializations drastically reduce its power output at low frequencies: the swimbladder muscle generated only one-twentieth of the power of the red muscle and one-seventh of the power of the white muscle at the frequencies used during swimming. To generate the same total power needed for swimming would require unfeasibly large amounts of swimbladder muscle that could not fit into the fish. Hence, the designs of the swimbladder and locomotory muscles are mutually exclusive.

Action Potentials↗

Apoptosis and expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase are mutually exclusive in renal mesangial cells.

Nitric oxide (NO) is a multipurpose messenger molecule, important for blood vessel relaxation, neuronal communication, and antimicrobial activities. The generation of NO from L-arginine is catalyzed by NO synthase (NOS). An inducible form of NOS, iNOS, was first characterized in macrophages and then in many other tissues and cells, including renal mesangial cells. Mesangial cells play a crucial role in the regulation of the glomerular filtration rate as well as in the pathophysiology of certain forms of glomerulonephritis in which mesangial cells and macrophages produce NO in high amounts. Because reports have associated NO production with apoptotic cell death in macrophages and we recently demonstrated NO-mediated apoptosis in mesangial cells, we searched for the relationship between in situ iNOS induction and apoptosis by iNOS immunocytochemistry and terminal desoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) staining. RAW 264.7 macrophages exhibited homogeneous iNOS expression and apoptotic nuclei in the iNOS-containing cells upon stimulation with interferon-gamma and lipopolysaccharide. In contrast, stimulated rat mesangial cells stained heterogeneously for iNOS, depending on cell passage and iNOS-stimulating pathway. Mesangial cells expressing iNOS did not display signs of apoptosis and, vice versa, cells showing characteristic features of apoptosis did not stain for iNOS. Thus, our study suggests that mesangial cells react to stimulation by interleukin-1 and/or cAMP-elevating compounds with mutually exclusive responses, either by expression of iNOS or by undergoing programmed cell death.

Animals↗

Follicular lymphoma grade 3B includes 3 cytogenetically defined subgroups with primary t(14;18), 3q27, or other translocations: t(14;18) and 3q27 are mutually exclusive.

Chromosomal translocations involving t(14;18)(q32;q21) and the chromosome 3q27 region are common in B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma of germinal center cell origin. Grade 3B follicular lymphoma (FL), consisting almost exclusively of centroblasts, is a distinct subgroup of follicular lymphomas that has more in common clinically with the aggressive diffuse large B-cell lymphomas than with their indolent FL grade 1 and 2 counterparts. We studied the cytogenetic and molecular genetic aberrations by classic cytogenetics, polymerase chain reaction, Southern blot hybridization, and fluorescence in situ hybridization, with special emphasis on t(14;18), affecting bcl-2, and 3q27 rearrangement, affecting bcl-6, in 32 cases of FL grade 3B. Three distinctive subgroups were identified based upon the existence of breakpoint 3q27, a translocation t(14;18), or the absence of both. Group I involved a t(14;18) and no 3q27 aberrations (n = 13); group II was without a t(14;18) and without 3q27 aberrations (n = 9), but had other cytogenetic aberrations; and group III was without a t(14;18) but with aberrations involving 3q27 (n = 10). None of the FL grade 3B cases harbored both a t(14;18) and 3q27 aberration. These results, in particular the finding of a mutual exclusiveness of bcl-2 and bcl-6 rearrangement, indicate at least 3 different pathways of oncogenesis in FL grade 3B. FL grade 3B with bcl-2 rearrangement probably is part of the same entity as the other follicular lymphomas (1, 2, 3A), whereas the cases with 3q27 abnormalities or other unrelated translocations are more closely related to the majority of diffuse large-cell lymphomas of germinal center cell origin.

Cell Transformation, Neoplastic↗

Mutually exclusive interaction of the adenovirus E4-6/7 protein and the retinoblastoma gene product with internal domains of E2F-1 and DP-1.

The binding of E2F to the adenovirus (Ad) E2a promoter is stimulated by the Ad E4-6/7 protein. E2F DNA binding activity is composed of a heterodimer of related but distinct proteins of the E2F-1 and DP-1 families. The E4-6/7 protein induces the cooperative and stable binding of E2F to an inverted repeat binding site in the E2a promoter apparently by providing a dimerization interface to two adjacent E2F heterodimers. The product of the retinoblastoma gene product (Rb) represses the transcriptional activity of E2F by direct protein-protein interaction. In this report, we have examined the regions of E2F-1 and DP-1 that are required for the induction of cooperative E2F binding to the E2a promoter by the E4-6/7 protein. Our results demonstrate that an internal segment of E2F-1, that is conserved among members of the E2F family, is required for functional interaction with the E4-6/7 product. Consistent with this observation, other members of the E2F family (E2F-2 and E2F-3) productively interact with E4-6/7. DP-1 also is necessary for stable interaction with E4-6/7 and an internal segment of DP-1 is required that is positioned in a location similar to that of the conserved E2F-1 domain. Interestingly, the binding of E4-6/7 and the binding of Rb to E2F are mutually exclusive, and our results show that the same internal segments of E2F-1 and DP-1 that are required for E4-6/7 binding are also required for stable interaction with Rb. These results suggest that the Ad E4-6/7 protein mimics Rb in part for the protein interaction requirements for E2F binding, although with different functional consequences. While Rb binding represses E2F activity, the E4-6/7 protein stimulates transactivation of the Ad E2a promoter.

Adenoviridae↗